Hangover Helper: Punch Drunk Brunch at 15 Romolo, San Francisco

When I first heard that 15 Romolo was starting a brunch service, I was thrilled. When I heard that said brunch would be titled Punch Drunk Brunch, with a daily boozy punch concoction, it was all I could do not to fist-pump. Why this unabashed enthusiasm? Because 15 Romolo is one of those bars in San Francisco that consistently hits both nails on the head: delicious, thoughtful cocktails and well-executed, delicious bar food.

Punch is $4 a glass, or free if you bring your own vintage teacup. Gimmicks aside, the punch is a serious value—though the serving is small, it is dangerously powerful considering how easily it goes down. A different version is served every morning—our punch was a sweet combination of rum, bourbon, coconut, honey syrup, and Tuaca Vanilla Liqueur. A sprinkling of blueberries completes each glass—they're delicious (if a little liquor-soaked) to eat out of the empty cup.

The punch was sweet, but not overly so, and provided an excellent counter to my baked egg on cornbread ($8). The serving is a hearty skillet of fresh cornbread, doused in vegetable gumbo and accompanied by a grill-marked half of Andouille sausage. The egg, perfectly runny, added a serious richness to the flavorful and spicy gumbo.

Every element was excellent individually, but was taken to a new level in combination—the cornbread was the perfect vehicle for the runnier aspects of the dish. Considering Romolo's cocktails are good enough to lead to a hell of a hangover, I'd say their new brunch service, in addition to being delicious, is an almost civic responsibility. In which case, I raise my glass to them.

15 Romolo

Lauren is a Bay Area-native whose serious eater status was sealed when she tried Brie for the first time at the age of 6. Since then, she has lived and eaten extensively in Philadelphia, Brooklyn, and London, before making a grand homecoming to San Francisco where she eats at least an avocado a day. She has been writing for Serious Eats since 2011.